Turner Broadcasting reveals return of The Powerpuff Girls

Hit franchise The Powerpuff Girls is returning in 2016, with Turner Broadcasting lining up a new TV show and licensing programme.

One of Cartoon Network's most enduring original series, The Powerpuff Girls has earned two Emmy Awards along with five nominations, as well as countless animation honours throughout its 78-episode run.

The series also inspired a feature film in 2003, a tenth anniversary special and a re-imagined CG special - The Powerpuff Girls: Dance Pantsed, which will air in the UK on Boomerang on Thursday, June 26th at 4pm.

To celebrate the special episode launch, former Beatle Ringo Starr has written and produced a song called I Wish I Was a Powerpuff Girl - this will air as a standalone feature alongside the special.

In addition, The Powerpuff Girls is one of the top grossing Cartoon Network brands of all time, with more than $2.5 billion in retail sales generated since its debut. It has also made waves in the fashion space, with a range of apparel partners and fashion collections around the world.

"The original Powerpuff Girls was a franchise phenomenon for Cartoon Network, paving the way for a new generation of innovative storytellers and enthusiastic fans worldwide," said Rob Sorcher, chief content officer at Cartoon Network. "We are calling these girls back into action based upon an overwhelming demand for sugar, spiace and Chemical X."

Pete Yoder, VP consumer products for North America, Cartoon Network Enterprises, added: "As the original ambassador of 'girl power', The Powerpuff Girls brand continues to resonate with people of all ages and there is tremendous excitement around introducing Blossom, Bubbles and Buttercup to a new generation.

"With proven success and great content plans in place, there's so much potential that we're looking forward to explore with our licensing partners in the coming weeks."

Billy Langsworthy talks with Johanne Broadfield, VP of Cartoon Network Enterprises EMEA, about how the firm's approach to licensing The Powerpuff Girls is differs from what was done for the brand’s first run in the late Nineties.

The studio’s new series of The Powerpuff Girls made its return to Cartoon Network in April 2016. It has since reached millions of new viewers and beaten average audience figures across its new free-to-air homes including CITV.